Miami-Dade libraries need to end ‘bookish’ attitude, panel says

Snippets:

“A panel convened by Miami’s Knight Foundation urged a remake of the library’s core identity — away from a quiet place for reading into more of an amenity-rich community center, with enough offerings to attract people uninterested in free books or computer time.”

“Knight panelists emphasized the need for libraries to leverage their locations at the heart of neighborhoods and communities, and draw in residents by offering educational and creative services that are otherwise lacking. Hill cited a partnership with the home-made goods site etsy.com in purchasing the loom and offering sewing classes at one branch.

Kenneth Furton, provost at Florida International University, said his school turned around chronic failures in algebra by launching a “Math Gym” in a campus library with tutors specializing in the algebra curriculum. Garmer said libraries can play a key role in teaching pre-schoolers to read, while the library director for Los Angeles, John Szabo, endorsed using community groups to match branches with residents in need.”